The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack received a negative reception from fans upon its release back in October 2021. One of the main selling points of the Expansion Pack is the Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online application, a digital collection of select Nintendo 64 titles fully playable on the Nintendo Switch. While the Nintendo 64 Collection contains era-defining classics such as Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the inclusion of GoldenEye 007 would significantly bolster its $49.99 annual subscription fee.
Released on August 25, 1997, as a video game adaptation of the 1995 James Bond Film, GoldenEye 007 remains one of the most pivotal games of its generation. Developed by Rare, GoldenEye 007 revolutionized the first-person shooter genre by setting the standard for split-screen multiplayer. Despite its incredible legacy and constant speculative rumors, GoldenEye 007 has never seen an official re-release. Reintroducing such a monumental title to current and past generation players would not only raise the credibility of the Expansion Pack but also improve the rapport between Nintendo and its customers regarding video game preservation.
Amidst all the accolades for GoldenEye 007, pioneering split-screen multiplayer remains its greatest achievement. A trailblazer for console first-person shooters, GoldenEye 007 offers its players a robust selection of customizable, deathmatch style game modes such as the chaotic "License to Kill" where each player dies from a single hit, as well as the infamous "You Only Live Twice," where players only have two lives to spare before they are eliminated from the game.
GoldenEye 007 features 11 unique multiplayer maps, as well as a massive roster of playable characters including some of the most iconic Bond villains, such as Jaws and Oddjob. Including GoldeneEye 007 as part of the Expansion Pack would allow players to enjoy split-screen multiplayer through the convenience of online connectivity, further adding to the game's longevity.
GoldenEye 007's absence from digital storefronts is mostly due to the logistical nightmare of licensing issues between Nintendo, Microsoft and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, the current copyright co-owner of all James Bond films alongside the US-based holding company, Danjaq. Failure to solve the entanglement of licensing issues forced Microsoft to cancel a remaster planned for the Xbox Live Arcade. Additionally, Nintendo partnered with Activision to publish a 2010 remake for the Nintendo Wii which contained re-imagined levels, scenarios, and gameplay. While the game garnered generally positive reception from fans and critics and a port for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, it failed to preserve the game design of the original Nintendo 64 classic.
Re-releasing such a beloved game as GoldenEye 007 for the first time in 25 years and making it exclusive to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack would certainly help Nintendo's case in justifying the $49.99 annual fee. Also, the desire from fans to see retro titles, such as GoldenEye 007, on current-generation consoles can serve as a reminder to Nintendo that retro games still hold value in today's market. This might further incentivize Nintendo to increase the number of past-generation titles offered with the Expansion Pack.
GoldenEye 007 would be an absolute game-changer for the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Its hectic split-screen multiplayer has aged terrifically, and the inclusion of online multiplayer would breathe new life into the game. Furthermore, its inclusion in the Expansion Pack would mark its first official re-release in 25 years. Not only could the game's re-release serve as an enticement for players to invest in the Expansion Pack, but it could pave the way for several classic titles to find a new home on the Nintendo Switch.
